U.S. Senator Adam Schiff has introduced six bills aimed at expanding support and market access for specialty crop growers ahead of Senate Agriculture Committee discussions on the next Farm Bill.

"California continues to lead the way in specialty crops, growing nearly half of the nation's vegetables and over three-quarters of the country's fruits and nuts,” said Schiff. “As California's first senator to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in over 30 years, I'm fighting to address the needs of specialty crop farmers, which are very different than those of the commodity crops of the Midwest and the South. I'm proud to introduce these bills to expand federal funding and bolster programs to better serve farmers in the Golden State. These proposals were formed based on ongoing feedback I've gathered during my visits to farms up and down the state, speaking with farmers, farmworkers, and other producers. I will continue to push for these policies as the Senate considers the Farm Bill," said Schiff.

The Economic Relief for Specialty Crops Act would provide US$5 billion in economic assistance for specialty crop producers.

The Improving Pest and Disease Preparedness for Specialty Crops Act would increase funding for USDA pest and disease programs, support prevention efforts in high-risk states, and expand funding for the National Clean Plant Network.

The Increasing Insurance Access for Specialty Crops Act would establish a Specialty Crop Advisory Committee for Crop Insurance at USDA. The measure is co-led by Senator Ben Ray Luján.

The Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act would allocate US$30 million annually from USDA research funding for specialty crop mechanisation and automation research and development.

The Ensuring Disaster Recovery and Resilience for Specialty Crops Act would create a permanent disaster assistance program for specialty crop growers. The bill is co-led by Senator Alex Padilla.

The Expanding Market Access Act would support access to export markets through technical assistance, a report on specialty crop competitiveness, and increased funding for the Market Access Program, which supports overseas promotion of U.S. agricultural products.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to consider the Farm Bill in the coming weeks.

Source: www.schiff.senate.gov June 1, 2026 posting